IND vs WI, 2nd Test, Day 2: After Shubman Gills ton, Ravindra Jadeja derails West Indies to put India on top
After Shubman Gill's ton helped India post 518 runs in their first innings, Ravindra Jadeja picked up a three-wicket haul to reduce West Indies to 140/4 at stumps on Day 2 of the 2nd Test in Delhi.
Ravindra Jadeja spun a web around the West Indies top order to reduce the visitors to 140/4 at stumps as India ended Day 2 on top in the ongoing 2nd Test against West Indies at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday. After skipper Shubman Gill's ton powered India to a huge total of 518/5 (declared), Jadeja weaved his magic with the ball to help the hosts continue their domination in the Test match.
Jadeja ran through the West Indies top order and finished with excellent figures of 3/37 off his 14 overs to leave the visitors tottering at 140/4 in 43 overs, trailing India by 378 runs in their first innings. Jadeja's magnificent spell helped India tighten the noose on West Indies and put the hosts on the cusp of another dominant victory in the second and final Test.
After Yashasvi Jaiswal departed early on Day 2 following an unfortunate run out, skipper Gill took control of the proceedings and led from the front with the bat. The Indian captain slammed an unbeaten 129 and combined with Nitish Reddy (43) and Dhruv Jurel (44) to power India to 518/5. Despite a double ton in sight, Gill decided to declare the hosts' innings an hour post Lunch after Jurel got dismissed in the 135th over.
It was a stellar ton from the Indian captain, who continued his red-hot form in the whites and looked in cruise control against the hapless West Indies bowling attack. Gill's 129 not out was laced with 16 fours and 2 sixes as he mauled the West Indies bowlers after Jaiswal's departure. He added 91 runs for the 4th wicket with Reddy, before sharing a crucial 102-run stand with Jurel for the 5th wicket.
Gill notched up his fifth ton for India since taking over as captain in the longest format earlier this year, equalling Virat Kohli's record of most centuries by an Indian Test captain in a calendar year. Kohli hammered five centuries as Test captain in a calendar year in 2017 and 2018. Gill hammered five tons in his first Test series as captain in England earlier this year.
Gill's ton capped off a dominant batting performance from India after Yashasvi Jaiswal stole the show with his sensational 173 on Day 1. Jaiswal made a mockery of the West Indies bowling attack to notch up his 7th Test ton and looked set to convert it into a double ton on Day 2 on Saturday. However, an unlucky run out ended his dream knock as Jaiswal departed on 175, after managing to add only 2 runs to his overnight score.
Jadeja, Kuldeep keep India on top
Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav picked up four wickets between them to reduce West Indies to 140/4 in 43 overs in their first innings at the end of Day 2 to keep India on top. West Indies got off to a sluggish start as they lost opener John Campbell cheaply on 10 in the 8th over. Campbell got dismissed in an unlucky fashion after a sweep against Jadeja rammed into Sai Sudharsan's knuckle and got stuck.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul (34) and Alick Athanaze (41) got West Indies back on track with a 66-run partnership for the second wicket. Jadeja struck in the 28th over to remove Chanderpaul, before Kuldeep dismissed Athanaze in quick succession. West Indies captain Roston Chase also departed cheaply on a duck after getting caught and bowled by Jadeja.
Jadeja's three-wicket haul helped India extend their domination on Day 2, and the hosts will aim to wrap up West Indies' first innings as quickly as possible on Day 3 to enforce follow-on. India might also want to come out to bat again on Day 3 if they manage to fold the viistors early in their first innings.